Coke Zero Fan Zone line-up announced

Top local musical acts, local restaurants and interactive activities to enhance the five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event in conjunction with the 2013 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™ and the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®

DETROIT – Olympia Entertainment revealed today the line-up and stage times for the local music acts and fun-filled family entertainment; participating Metro Detroit-area restaurants; winter- and hockey-themed interactive activities including photo opportunities with the Stanley Cup taking place at the Coke Zero Fan Zone. The five-day, 122,000-square-foot hockey fan event outside of Comerica Park December 27-31, will take place in conjunction with the 2013 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™ inside Comerica Park leading up to the highly anticipated 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Michigan Stadium New Year's Day.

"The expansive list of musical and family-oriented entertainment, along with the interactive games and diverse food offerings, provides a great experience for people of all ages," said Tom Wilson, president & CEO of Olympia Entertainment. "Regardless of whether fans are attending the hockey action inside Comerica Park or not, the Coke Zero Fan Zone provides so much to see, so much to hear and so much to do that it is a can't-miss experience."

The Coke Zero Fan Zone will be free to fans holding tickets to that day's hockey games at the Hockeytown Winter Festival. Admission for non-ticketholders is $5 each day with tickets available for purchase at the entrance. The event will span three heated tents with hockey-themed exhibits, interactive games and activities, autograph and photo opportunities and local music and food offerings. Most activities including live entertainment and Alumni autographs are free. SnowZilla toboggan runs are $2, skating on the synthetic ice rink is $2 ($5 with skate rental) and a $5 donation to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation will provide a photo opportunity with the Stanley Cup on December 30-31.

A total of 27 musical acts representing a variety of genres will reflect the vibrant spirit of metro Detroit as they entertain fans throughout the run of the Coke Zero Fan Zone appearing on two stages, one in the Molson Hockey House and the other in the Detroit Red Wings Experience. Leading the way are pop favorites Killer Flamingos and pop-rocker Stewart Francke on December 27, polka-rock band Polish Muslims and rock/punk sensation Kaleido on December 28, blues/rocker Laith al Saadi and Canadian pop/rock singer-songwriter Jody Raffoul on December 29, veteran entertainers Persuasion and popular R&B/soul/blues singer Thornetta Davis on December 30, and funk band Big Pappa & The Machine and country music performer David Shelby on December 31.

As hockey is a major theme of the Coke Zero Fan Zone, the sport's major prize – the Stanley Cup – will appear for photos with fans the final two days of the event on December 30-31. Each of the two days, Phil Pritchard, known as the "Keeper of the Cup" will take to the Molson Hockey House Stage to share his stories and experiences with the Cup. On December 31, Pritchard will be joined by Red Wings Alumnus Chris Chelios. World-famous goalie mask painter David Arrigo will be painting Hockeytown Winter Festival-themed masks and a giant mural from inside the Detroit Red Wings Experience tent. In addition, fans will be able to participate in a variety of interactive hockey-themed activities including Bubble Hockey, Mini-Sticks and Hardest Shot, as well as competing on a full-size street hockey rink. Other hockey-related activities perfect for photo opportunities include touring the Hockey Hall of Fame tent featuring all of the NHL trophies and visiting replica locker room set-ups of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs.

At multiple locations in the Coke Zero Fan Zone, members of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs Alumni will be available for autographs and will be hosting Question & Answer sessions with fans. Go to www.DetroitRedWings.com/2014WinterClassic for the most up to date schedule and information.

Some of Detroit's area restaurants will be on-site offering a variety of well-rounded food offerings far from the realm of traditional hockey rink fare. The Palm Palace, offering chicken shwarma, ground lamb sandwiches and Mediterranean pizza pockets, will be situated in the Molson Hockey House. Fans can find the Jackson Five-Star kiosk, featuring Italian, Polish and pulled pork sandwiches along with Southern fried fish, in the Detroit Red Wings Experience tent. Vintage Catering, known for its amazing smoked turkey legs, and the Polish Village Café, showcasing their fresh take on traditional Polish dishes, can be found in the Hockey Hall of Fame tent.

During each day of the Coke Zero Fan Zone, event-goers can take the challenge of playing "Fan Feud" and "Get in it to Win it," hosted by "Game Show Guy" Dan Nichols on the Detroit Red Wings Experience stage. In "Fan Feud," participants are called up to answer hockey-related questions, while in "Get in it to Win it," those chosen will have to take hockey/winter-themed challenges for the opportunity to win prizes. Additional Detroit Red Wings-themed prizes can be had during the on-stage stints of DJ Matty Sexton and Hype Guy Leighton Condell who will be hosting impromptu games, contests and challenges from the Molson Hockey House.